Kingston Water Board Approves Seasonal Watering Limits, Eyes Fall Town Meeting for Well Funds

KINGSTON — April 28, 2026 — Kingston water board sets seasonal watering limits and advances new well construction timeline to 2027. The Board of Water Commissioners voted unanimously April 28 to reinstate non-essential outdoor water use restrictions from May 1 through September 30, limiting irrigation to one day per week — Tuesdays for odd-addressed properties, Thursdays for even — between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Engineering consultant Kristen Berger of Resilient told the board that pump testing of a new test well begins the week of May 13, with a MassDEP permit application targeted for late July or early August and a parallel new source approval process under the Water Management Act running through April 2027. The board was told it will need to secure a construction appropriation at a fall 2026 special town meeting — with an article submission deadline around early October — or risk pushing construction past summer 2027. The board also unanimously accepted the 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, noting the highest nitrate detection last year was 2.33 parts per million, well below the federal maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per million, and approved three town meeting articles to replenish reserve accounts drawn down for the water tank project.